This year’s recipients of the Dorothy Bramlage Public Library’s annual Cap & Mitten donations were Sheridan and Eisenhower Elementary Schools.

Susan Moyer, Library Director, announced that each building received half of the new caps, gloves, mittens, scarves and other cold weather gear that was donated by members of the public and collected at the library from the beginning of December through mid-January.

The donated items are used by the schools to help their students stay warm on their way home from school when they have forgotten, lost, or damaged their own hats and gloves. The Cap & Mitten Tree is an annual project of the library and the items are shared with at least two elementary schools each year.

DICKINSON COUNTY—Deputies of the Dickinson County Sheriff’s Office Drug Enforcement Unit conducted a traffic stop Monday on I-70 east of Abilene. During the traffic stop, deputies gained consent to search a 2011 Nissan passenger car with Mexico tags. according to a media release.

During the search of the car, deputies located a kilogram (2.5 pounds) of pure Fentanyl . The two people in the car were then taken into custody.

27-year-old Victor Hugo Fimbres Pesqueir  and 32-year-old Diana Aracely Manjarrez Beltran both of Mexico was arrested for possession with intent to distribute an opiate (fentanyl), possession of drug paraphernalia and no drug tax stamp.

The estimated street value of the seized Fentanyl is $1.3 million dollars.

According to the release the case is ongoing and further arrest are possible.

RILEY COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating two additional cases of alleged rape in Manhattan and Riley County.

On Tuesday, officers filed a report for rape, aggravated kidnapping and aggravated battery of a 31-year-old woman in Manhattan, according to the Riley County Police Department Activity report. The victim reported she knew the suspect.

On Monday, a 21-year-old woman reported rape by a known male suspect, according to the RCPD.

In July, Riley County authorities said the number of rapes reported in Manhattan and surrounding areas had doubled during the first quarter of the year compared with the same time in 2017.
Sixteen rapes were reported in the first quarter of 2017, up from eight in the same period in 2016.

The Junction City Area Chamber of Commerce is seeking volunteers to gather in downtown Junction City to remove 2017 Christmas decorations this Sunday ( Feb. 4 ) from 1-4 p.m. at 109 West 7th.

Volunteers are encouraged to bring ladders. Junction City Tattoo will be making tacos for those who attend.

The event is hosted by Vernon’s Custom Jewelry LLC.

Fort Riley homes will be receiving solar panels as part of a Corvias portfolio-wide initiative to install solar power at partner military installations across the United States at no cost to the military. This is in support of the Department of Defense Privatized Housing Solar Challenge Initiative.

The effort will provide military housing projects rate stabilization resulting in utility savings reinvested into project scope, and increased energy security while eliminating approximately 92,000 tons of carbon emissions each year.

“The 1st Infantry Division and Fort Riley are committed to energy security and sustainability. Army readiness is the true reason, said Col. John D. lawrence, Fort Riley Garrison Commander. “Through this large scale generation of solar energy, we mark a significant step in achievement of Fort Riley’s energy conservation goals.”

In February Onyx Renewable partners, LLC will begin to install solar power on approximately 1,260 homes throughout the communities on post. The solar panels are expected to generate more than 10.5 megawatts of solar power in the first year alone.

The Corps of Engineers has announced that outflows from Milford Lake were being increased on Wednesday from 500 cubic feet per second to 2,000 cubic feet per second.

That is expected to bring the lake to the winter target level of 1141.4 or three feet below normal within seven to ten days.

Ice conditions around the marinas are still being monitored and outflows may be reduced , if necessary, to prevent structural damage as the lake elevation drops.

The current lake elevation is 1143.39.